New MH ballast?

Jaycen B. · 07-17-2010, 7:41 PM

I am looking to upgrade my MH reflectors soon and switch to SE Radium bulbs.
I am running 400W Hamilton DE in reefstar pendants now. I would like stick with the 400s. One of the Hamilton ballast is going bad so I would like to change this pulse stat ballast out with one I can use in the future with both the DE and SE bulbs until I can get new reflectors. I would like to have a ballast that will run anything I put in.

Will this work? Sunlight supply’s Lumatek or is there something better that will fit my needs for the future upgrade. Also any Input on reflectors would be grate also.

Thanks JB.

mikesommers · 07-17-2010, 9:17 PM

I personally like Coralvue ballasts. I know they will run almost everything. They are electronic. You can also get them in a dimmable form witch is really cool!

Eric B · 07-17-2010, 9:23 PM

Check out LilRobb's sales thread he has a bunch of ballast/light reflectors most are 400 watt...

Jaycen B. · 07-17-2010, 9:32 PM

The lumatec is also dimmable right? Is there any difference?

Jaycen B. · 07-17-2010, 9:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric B

Check out LilRobb's sales thread he has a bunch of ballast/light reflectors most are 400 watt...

That is too much for me, I would like to buy new equipment with a warrantee.
Besides he gets to chose who he wants to sell to.

grouper therapy · 07-17-2010, 11:59 PM

A pulse start will run anything you put in it. single or double end.

johnr2604 · 07-18-2010, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grouper therapy

A pulse start will run anything you put in it. single or double end.

yep

mikesommers · 07-18-2010, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaycen B.

The lumatec is also dimmable right? Is there any difference?

Check out hellolights.com you can pick up a dimmable coralvue 400 watt for a decent price. Very nice ballast!
CoralVue 400 watt dimmable $150.00

JAustin · 07-18-2010, 12:04 AM

I would recommend coralvue dimmable. Great ballast and wonderful customer service if you ever need them. I run radium bulbs now and the color is fantastic. You will need to change the bulbs out every 7 months though.

mikesommers · 07-18-2010, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikesommers

Check out hellolights.com you can pick up a dimmable coralvue 400 watt for a decent price. Very nice ballast!
CoralVue 400 watt dimmable $150.00

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAustin

I would recommend coralvue dimmable. Great ballast and wonderful customer service if you ever need them. I run radium bulbs now and the color is fantastic. You will need to change the bulbs out every 7 months though.

grouper therapy · 07-18-2010, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAustin

I would recommend coralvue dimmable. Great ballast and wonderful customer service if you ever need them. I run radium bulbs now and the color is fantastic. You will need to change the bulbs out every 7 months though.

Why is that?

JAustin · 07-18-2010, 12:16 AM

because after 7 months the bulb is done...stick a fork in it....toasted. Will start to grow algae. The bulb is designed to be ran at 360w so if you run it at 400 it reduces it's life. If you chill the wattage down you may be able to get more time out of it but i've not done that just yet. Working on it now though, will have results in another 7 months.

grouper therapy · 07-18-2010, 12:30 AM

Never experienced any algae growth due to a bulb. I did see a drop in par after 12 months of use but it really was not that bad. I was over driving them big time with 430 watt HPS ballast.

LilRobb · 07-18-2010, 12:35 AM

I have a major problem with the "algae growth" claims, algaes being photosynthetic need PAR (photosynthetic active radiation) to grow, same do our beloved corals.
Now why would an old bulb all of a sudden emit more par stimulating algae growth???

grouper therapy · 07-18-2010, 12:41 AM

I'm not saying it didn't happen by any means but I know where 16 1year old plus radium 400 watt bulbs are being used and there is no algae growth taking place.

JAustin · 07-18-2010, 12:45 AM

color spectrum shift, old bulbs shift color...not all colors you can see. I get brown algae on my sand, not much but it goes away when i change bulbs. I've got a old USHIO 2Ok 150w i can send you to check out what i mean, it grows all kinds of algae. It's over a year old too.

I don't want to de-rail this thread, sorry if i have already.

LilRobb · 07-18-2010, 12:52 AM

Plants don't see colors neither - all they care for is PAR radiation, so technically an algae outbreak states that HIGHER PAR are emitting, something any PAR meter will prove wrong.
And if it would - corals would grow better, too.

I just need someone to explain it to me - the statement "old bulbs grow algae" doesn't do it for me...

AndyMan · 07-18-2010, 1:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LilRobb

I just need someone to explain it to me - the statement "old bulbs grow algae" doesn't do it for me...

my Nano actually catches about a 2 hour "sliver" of real sunshine... guess what.. HAIR ALGAE is starting right where the sliver of sunshine hits

my big tank has been basically HA eradicated thanks to massive magnesum injection and Cliff... now have to do the same in the nano

johnr2604 · 07-18-2010, 1:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LilRobb

Plants don't see colors neither - all they care for is PAR radiation, so technically an algae outbreak states that HIGHER PAR are emitting, something any PAR meter will prove wrong.
And if it would - corals would grow better, too.

I just need someone to explain it to me - the statement "old bulbs grow algae" doesn't do it for me...

I have to disagree that plants don't care about spectrum, This is why its important to use certain kelvin ranges to grow macro's. PAR is the closest measurement available to us on what our corals use for growth but there are still effects with spectrum that go beyond the fact that a higher kelvin bulb typically produces less PAR. Typically bulbs get more white or yellow with age actually lowering the kelvin rating working there way toward the 6000k range recommended for macro's

JAustin · 07-18-2010, 1:04 AM

Quote:

the statement "old bulbs grow algae" doesn't do it for me...

google might do it for ya or run your bulbs for a couple years.

07-18-2010, 12:45 AM	#16
JAustin Join Date: Sep 2007 Age: 31 Posts: 1,181 City: Ray City State: GA Occupation: FLEO Other Interests: shooting, my chihuahuas, and grilling.	color spectrum shift, old bulbs shift color...not all colors you can see. I get brown algae on my sand, not much but it goes away when i change bulbs. I've got a old USHIO 2Ok 150w i can send you to check out what i mean, it grows all kinds of algae. It's over a year old too. I don't want to de-rail this thread, sorry if i have already. Last edited by JAustin; 07-18-2010 at 12:54 AM..

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07-17-2010, 9:17 PM	#2
mikesommers Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 696 City: Dallas State: GA Occupation: VW Tech Other Interests: Fishing, working on landscaping around my house, and beer!	I personally like Coralvue ballasts. I know they will run almost everything. They are electronic. You can also get them in a dimmable form witch is really cool!

07-18-2010, 12:04 AM	#9
JAustin Join Date: Sep 2007 Age: 31 Posts: 1,181 City: Ray City State: GA Occupation: FLEO Other Interests: shooting, my chihuahuas, and grilling.	I would recommend coralvue dimmable. Great ballast and wonderful customer service if you ever need them. I run radium bulbs now and the color is fantastic. You will need to change the bulbs out every 7 months though.

07-18-2010, 12:16 AM	#12
JAustin Join Date: Sep 2007 Age: 31 Posts: 1,181 City: Ray City State: GA Occupation: FLEO Other Interests: shooting, my chihuahuas, and grilling.	because after 7 months the bulb is done...stick a fork in it....toasted. Will start to grow algae. The bulb is designed to be ran at 360w so if you run it at 400 it reduces it's life. If you chill the wattage down you may be able to get more time out of it but i've not done that just yet. Working on it now though, will have results in another 7 months.

07-18-2010, 12:35 AM	#14
LilRobb Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 4,035 City: Acworth State: GA Occupation: Logistics Manager Other Interests: My cars	I have a major problem with the "algae growth" claims, algaes being photosynthetic need PAR (photosynthetic active radiation) to grow, same do our beloved corals. Now why would an old bulb all of a sudden emit more par stimulating algae growth???

07-18-2010, 12:52 AM	#17
LilRobb Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 4,035 City: Acworth State: GA Occupation: Logistics Manager Other Interests: My cars	Plants don't see colors neither - all they care for is PAR radiation, so technically an algae outbreak states that HIGHER PAR are emitting, something any PAR meter will prove wrong. And if it would - corals would grow better, too. I just need someone to explain it to me - the statement "old bulbs grow algae" doesn't do it for me...

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